Chapter 16: Socioemotional development in middle adulthood

Question 1

Generativity v. stagnation

Answer 1

Adults have the desire to leave a legacy

Question 2

Levinson’s Seasons of a Man’s Life

Answer 2

Early adult transition (17-22)
Middle adult transition (40-45)
Late adult transition (60-65)

Question 3

Criticism of Levinson

Answer 3

Too much emphasis on crises in development

Doesn’t account for individual variations

Question 4

Contemporary life-events approach

Answer 4

Emphasizes that how a life event influences the individual’s development depends not only on the event but also on mediating factors

Question 5

Stress in midlife

Answer 5

“overload” stressors, peak sense of personal control

Question 6

Gender and stress

Answer 6

Women are more vulnerable to social stressors

Question 7

Fight-or-flight

Answer 7

Stress response of men

Question 8

Tend-and-befriend

Answer 8

Stress response of women

Question 9

Social clock

Answer 9

Timetable according to which people are expected to accomplish certain things

Question 10

T or F
Critics say stage theories have a male bias

Answer 10

True

Question 11

T or F
Midlife is generally a negative period for all women

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Big Five factors of personality

Answer 12

Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism

Question 13

Berkeley Longitudinal Studies

Answer 13

John Clausen, anti-stage theories

Parents and children in 1920s and early 30s

Question 14

People show _______ during midlife.

Answer 14

stability

Question 15

Middle-aged couples view their marriage as positive if they engage in _______.

Answer 15

mutual activities

Question 16

Divorce rates are _______.

Answer 16

increasing

Question 17

Empty nest syndrome

Answer 17

Decrease in marital satisfaction after children leave the home

Question 18

Sibling closeness in adulthood is related to _______.

Answer 18

sibling closeness in childhood

Question 19

T or F
Friendships are no longer as important.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

Three prominent meanings attached to being a grandparent

Answer 20

1. Sense of biological reward and continuity
2. Source of emotional self-fulfillment
3. Remote role

Question 21

Grandparents who are full-time caregivers for grandchildren are at heightened risk for _______.

Answer 21

health problems, depression, and stress

Question 22

What are some sources of stress in middle adulthood?

Answer 22

Children, work, marriage, and aging parents

Question 23

Intergenerational relationships are closer among _______.

Answer 23

women